- Appellate Court Rules Federal High Court Lacks Jurisdiction in Leadership Case
- INEC and Caretaker Committee Appeals Struck Out
The Court of Appeal has reaffirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, upholding its earlier judgment delivered on November 13, 2024.
A three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka ruled that the appellate court’s decision recognizing Abure’s leadership remains valid and has not been overturned by any other court.
Justice Barka made the pronouncement while delivering judgments in two appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, representing the party’s caretaker committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court ruled that leadership disputes within the Labour Party are non-justiciable, stating that any ruling made outside proper jurisdiction is null and void. This invalidates the Federal High Court’s October 8, 2024, decision by Justice Emeka Nwite, which had previously challenged Abure’s leadership.
“Anything done outside jurisdiction amounts to a nullity,” Justice Barka declared. He further emphasized that the appellate court’s November 13 judgment serves as the authoritative legal position, cementing Abure’s status as the Labour Party’s national chairman.
Both appeals were struck out for lack of jurisdiction, effectively quashing attempts to unseat Abure and underscoring the appellate court’s standing as the final arbiter in the leadership dispute.
This decision solidifies Abure’s authority at a critical time for the Labour Party, as it continues to position itself as a formidable political force in Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.
